Blotter



' following is a specification.

' UNIT STATES? PATENT Orifice,

JOHN H. RUSSELL, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS.

BLOTfI'ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,640, dated August 1, 1893.

Application filed April 4,1 893. Serial No. 468,994. .(No model.)

Be it known that 1,.10HNH. RUssELL,a

rose, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Blotters, of which-th My invention relates to blotters, of that class which are generally known as hand-' blotters, and are especially useful for blotting papers, letters, &c., on the desk or other suitable positions in which they are written, and

it has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of such devices, and to provide means whereby the effect of the common hand use of the sheet of blotting paper is preserved, and to these ends, my invention con-. sists in a device having the features of con- 'struction, arrangement and mode of use, sub-j stantially as hereinafter more particularly 1 base or body portion A, for a blotter, which pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective view-of a blotter, embodying my invention; and Fig. 2, is aside view, partly in section, of the same.

In the ordinary use of blotting paper, which generally comes in the form of small sheets,

the paper is laid upon the fresh ink and the inconvenient and undesirable to have single sheets of blotting paper conveniently at hand, and more than that, the constant rubbing of them with the fingers soon destroys the paper, and is otherwise objectionable, and a still further objection is that it is diflicult to press evenly on all parts of the surface of the paper, so that the ink will be quickly and evenly absorbed. V I

It has been common to provide blotting pads or devices consisting essentially of some body or framework orsupport to which more or less pieces or sheets of blotting paper have been secured for convenience of use, and these devices are generally arranged with curved surfaces so that in applying the device to the sheet to absorb the ink, the blotter is rocked or rolled over the paper, so that instead of the blotting paper approaching the lines in a square direct manner, it strikes thelines at an angle, and rocking or rolling over thelines, tends to a greater or less extent, to force the fink alongthe surface of'the paper, before it can be absorbed bythe' blotter, thus producing irregular" lines and defacement of the writing.

It is the object of my present invention to providea means which shall avoid the objections to this class of blotters, and to embody the advantages of having a pad or blotting device to which the paper or absorbent material is secured, and at the same time to be enabled to use the blotter in the most efiectual manner and produce a rubbing action similar to that heretofore suggested in connection with single sheets. 0

In carrying out my invention, I provide a maybe of any suitable material; sha

size, and which in the 'present instance is shown as a rectangular Wooden block, having parallel faces, and being of a substantially uniform thickness throughout, as this has been found to be a convenient embodiment of this feature of the device. Connected to the body A is an elastic body B, shown in the present instance as a sheet of felt, rubber or similar material, and this sheet (or sheets) is attached to the body-by any suitable means, sothat it is free from the under'surface of the body but connected to the body asat the ends. While various means may be utilized for attaching this elastic material, I have shown in the present instance grooves or slots a formed in the ends of the body, into which the ends of the elastic material are inserted and secured, as by glue or otherwise. This forms a sort of cushion for the bodyA of the pad, and a support for the blotting material C. This absorbing or blotting. materialsis shown in the present instance as "composed of one or more sheets or layers "of ordinary blotting paper, and in order to secure the paper to the pad, the ends are turned up,as at c, by machinery, or otherwise, 'and are arranged to fit in the slots at at the end of the block.

In applying the sheets, it is preferable to turn the edges up or fold them by machinery or otherwise, before the sheets are connected to the pad, and then by sliding the folded portions 0' into the slots laterally, the paper may be attached without danger of injury, and when attached the sheet or sheets will be securely held against any ordinary tendency to withdraw the same.

Mounted on the body portion A of the pad, is a smoother or rubber D, which is arranged to slide between the under surface of the body of the pad and the absorbing material, or between it and the elastic material, so that pressure may be brought upon the absorbing material throughout its surface. In the present instance, I have shown the rubber as con sisting of a simple band of metal, loosely embracing the body A and arranged to slide freely thereon. The edges of the rubbing portion (1 of the rubber may be rounded, chamfered, or inclined, so that it will move freely over the material, and the rubber is preferably highly finished, by being polished or nickeLplatcd, so as to slide more freely and give a more perfect and even bearing.

The use of the device will be clearly understood, and it will be seen that the pad is applied to the surface having the fresh ink thereon, in a direct manner without danger of blotting the lines, and then by moving the rubber backward or forward, or both, the absorbing material is pressed into close contact with the lines, by a direct pressure, which does not tend to blur or force the ink sidewise or outside of the lines, and the elastic material when used compensates for any unevenness of the paper there may be, so that the whole of the surface can be subjected to an ,even and direct pressure which will avoid all danger of J blotting, and the rubbing action of the hand 3 cannot onlybe simulated, but improved upon. 1

While I have thus shown and described one preferred and simple embodiment of my invention, it will be evident that the details of construction and arrangement of parts can be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, the leading feature of which consists in supplying a blotting pad with a device which is capable of operating on the absorbing material, and simulate the rubbing action of the hand in the use of the ordinary blotting sheets.

It will be understood that while I have shown the blotter as being provided with an elastic material interposed between the absorbing material and the body portion, this may be omitted.

It will further be observed that the body portion is shown as having parallel sides, and while this is preferable, my invention may be used to a greater or less extent by having the under side a plane surface, so that the absorbing material may be pressed squarely upon the written surface, without danger of blotting, forcing the ink outside the proper lines of the marks.

What I claim is 1. A blotting pad, comprising a body portion, absorbing material secured thereto and a rubbing device interposed bet ween the body and absorbing material; substantially as described.

2. A blotting pad, comprising a body portion, an elastic material and an absorbing material secured to the body, and a rubber interposed between the body and the elastic and absorbing material; substantially as described.

3. A blotting pad, comprising a body portion, an absorbing material covering one side of the body portion and secured to the ends thereof, and a rubber embracing the body portion and arranged to slide between said portion and the absorbing material; substantially as described.

4:. A blotting pad, comprising a rectangular plate or body, absorbing material secured to the ends thereof, and a rubber comprising a band embracing the body portion and extending between the underside thereof and the absorbing material; substantially as described.

5. A blotting pad, the body of which has parallel sides or surfaces, absorbing material secured to the body and covering one of the parallel sides and a rubber for the absorbing material; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. RUSSELL.

Witnesses:

ALPHEUS SANFORD, T. M. VINSON. 

